-
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War was a war over land between the English Crown and the French and Indians. They all wanted to either keep or use the land that they were fighting for. The French and Indian War was caused because Europeans wanted to move onto Indian land by the Ohio River Valley and west of the Appalachians. The Indians wanted to keep their land to themselves but the Europeans continued to push. French also wanted to use an area of trade but the English Crown also wanted to use the area -
Period: to
The American Revolution
-
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris that followed the French and Indian war was signed in 1763. It showed that the British had won the war and what land they received. Since Spain had sided with the French, they lost the war too. The Spanish had to give Florida to Britain but they then received different land, previously French land, which was west of the Mississippi river. The Spanish also get the city of New Orleans. The British got the French land that had been east of the Mississippi as well as Florida from -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was one of many acts passed by Parliament as an attempt to keep the colonies in order. Parliament passed the Sugar Act as a way to crack down on smuggling in the colonies. The Sugar Act changed the tax on sugar and molasses. The British Parliament wanted to crack down on the smuggling so that companies that they supported and themselves as a country would make more money. Even though the act lowered the price of the sugar and molasses, the colonists saw this act as a violation of p -
Stamp Act
Another way that Parliament attempts to keep the colonies in order is with the Stamp Act. The Stamp Act declares that colonies must pay a tax on all paper goods and official documents. The colonists react strongly. Some colonies begin to organize a boycott for all paper goods. Other colonists believe that that it is too many taxes on too many things and that it is unfair that they have no representation in the government. October 1765 nine colonies decide to send delegates to a meeting in New Yo -
Boston Massacre
In March 1770 Parliament makes the decision to repeal all the taxes except the one on tea. The reason they left the tax on tea and only the tax on tea, was to show the colonists that they still have the power to tax them whenever they want. Before word got to the colonies that the taxes had been repealed, the protests were becoming more violent. ON March 5th a group of drunken colonists surrounded a smaller group of soldiers a started to harass them. The colonists threw pieces of hardened ice an -
Boston Tea Party
The Parliament allows the British East India Company to start selling their tea directly to the colonies because they are going bankrupt. The British East India Company is going bankrupt because they are unable to sell their goods in the colonies because of boycotts. This outraged the colonists, because the British East India Company is was able to sell their tea cheaply when colonial merchants still had to pay a tax on their imported tea. One day a group of colonists called the Sons of Liberty -
Lexington and Concord
The American colonies start to resist the British rule. Britain sends troops to fight against it. General Gage learns that there is a stash of weapons in Concord and he begins to lead the troops to Concord to search for the weapons. Paul Revere, a member of the Sons of Liberty, rides through the towns to alert the minutemen that the British are coming. The minutemen gather on the Lexington town green to meet the British. One person from which side we don’t know fired a shot and killed eight peop -
American Navy Defeats Serapis
In 1775 Congress wanted to begin building a navy but the progress was slow. It took time to build every ship that was needed. In 1779 they finished Bonhomme Richard which was to be captained by John Paul Jones. When the Bonhomme Richard went up against British warship Serapis, after both ships were in tatters, the sails were torn and there were holes blown into the sides, he was asked if he were going to surrender and John Paul Jones said “I have not yet begun to fight.” The colonists also paid -
The Declaration of Independence
Even after Lexington and Concord, Americans weren’t sure whether or not to support the colonists or support Britain. Thomas Paine then publishes Common Sense, a pamphlet about the things Britain had done to the colonies. This had a great influence on the colonies. Richard Henry Lee then proposes a resolution to the congress. He states that “We should be free and independent states.” Congress decides that they need a document that states all the reasons that they want and need independence. Thoma -
Battle of Trenton
The American troop’s enlistments expire on December 31st and Washington needs a victory to convince them to reenlist or convince others to join the army. Washington and his troops plan a surprise attack on the Hessian mercenaries that were living in Trenton, NJ. First the troops had to cross the frozen Delaware River, some men that did not have clothe had to tie strips of cloth to their feet to prevent them from freezing. The troops also needed to march several miles to reach the Hessians. It is -
Battle of Saratoga
General Burgoyne has a plan to take control of the Hudson Valley and then isolate New England from the other states. His plan fails but General Howe, who is going to go help him, is then ordered by the king to go and attack Philadelphia instead of continuing on to help Burgoyne. Burgoyne’s troops are having trouble moving their supplies down south and other British troops are rushing to help them but are cut off by the American troops before they reach Burgoyne. This reinforces the idea that Am -
Help From Europe
In February France decides to sign an alliance with America stating that they will money, weapons, and uniforms as needed to the colonies. Spain and the Netherlands also decide to help by giving loans and military action. Individual European officers also help in the war. Marquis de Lafayette becomes a high-ranking officer after Washington. One time when Lafayette was hurt, Washington said to the medical helper “Treat him as though he were my son.” Friedrich von Steuben helps raise the American -
Winter at Valley Forge
Washington’s troops were driven from Philadelphia by British and were forced to spend the winter at Valley Forge. The men had to build cabins from scratch in the harsh conditions of the winter. The weather was never pleasant with snow and blizzards and the temperature would drop into negatives. There was barely enough food for everyone. Others had to go without clothes while sleeping. Disease spread very fast since they were crammed into little cabins and medicine was very scarce. Word of the co -
Battle/Siege of Yorktown
General Cornwallis makes a fatal mistake when he decides to move his troops to a peninsula to restock supplies. He goes and moves his troops to the coast of Virginia in an attempt to reimburse their supplies. He only goes because he believes that the British navy is still protecting the port but a little while ago the French chased them away. Meanwhile, Washington’s troops move as fast as they can to reach the peninsula just after Cornwallis’s troops get there. As Cornwallis realizes that he has -
Treaty of Paris
Parliament votes to talk to colonies about peace in 1782. Both sides agree to meet in Paris with a small representation group. The group congress sends has of John Adams, Ben Franklin. Go to Paris to negotiate treaty terms. Treaty says America can have the land east of Mississippi river and up to Canada. Florida will be returned to Spain. U.S. urges colonists to repay loyalists for house/farm damage. Hardly happens throughout the colonies. Congress approves the treaty on April 5th, 1783.
